GERMINATION POTENTIAL AND VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF Aegiphila brachiata VELL

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the germination potential of Aegiphila brachiata (peloteiro) and its propagation through stem-cuttings, as well as how the age of parental plants and the application indolebutyric acid (IBA) and inoculant of Azospirillum brasilense influence adventitious rooting of the species. Thus, the physical characterization of a seed lot and a germination test were performed, both with or without seed scarification and at three gibberellin concentrations (0, 50 and 100 mg.L-1 GA3). For stem-cuttings, two experiments were carried out with cuttings, one with young individuals and the other with adult trees. In both experiments, stem-cuttings were submitted to treatments with IBA (0, 1500, 3000 and 6000 mg.L-1) and a solution of Azospirillum brasilense (50% and 100% of the commercial concentration) for rooting in a greenhouse for 30 days. No seeds germinated and a barrier of radicle emission was identified in the endocarp. The inoculation of stem-cuttings with A. brasilense revealed no influence in rhizogenesis. The stem-cutting technique from young trees is recommended for plantlet production of this species (53.75% rooting), requiring 6000 mg.L-1 IBA application under the conditions that were adopted. Stem-cuttings from adult trees are not recommended for the production of plantlets of peloteiro (Aegiphila brachiata Vell.) due to the low rooting rates (10%) and high mortality (68.33%).